Opening a foreign bank account has become an operational necessity for thousands of international entrepreneurs. Yet, most of them hit a wall of bureaucracy, rejections, and sky-high minimum deposits.
Why? Because international banks don’t welcome you with open arms. It’s not enough to show up at a branch in New York or Zurich with your passport and a wire transfer.
In this article, you’ll discover how opening international bank accounts really works, which of the world’s most prestigious banks are accessible remotely, and above all how to bypass the obstacles that block 90% of entrepreneurs.
Why is it so difficult to open an international bank account?
Since 2015, with the introduction of the CRS (Common Reporting Standard) and OECD anti-money laundering regulations, banks have shifted the entire burden of controls onto financial institutions. Result? Even perfectly legal businesses are treated as potential “complicated clients”.
Banks prefer not to take risks. If you’re not a resident, if you don’t have physical ties to the country, if your documentation isn’t perfect down to the millimeter: they tend to keep the door closed.
The main obstacles you face today
- Local residency requirement
Want to open an account in the United States but live in Europe? Most American banks will ask for a local address, a Social Security Number, utility bills in your name. Don’t have them? Application rejected. - High minimum deposits
JP Morgan Chase for a non-resident: 150,000-200,000 dollars minimum deposit. UBS in Switzerland: 1-5 million euros depending on the branch. - Biblical timeframes
The standard procedure to open an account at a Swiss bank? 6-12 months. For JP Morgan? Weeks of waiting, plus physical trips to America, branch appointments, continuously supplementing documentation. - Unexplained rejections
Even if you meet all requirements, many banks reject applications without owing you any explanation. In fact, in recent years, regulatory compliance costs have increased significantly, along with the need to maintain profitability, since up to 50% of clients with so-called “low” assets generate losses rather than profits for the bank.
What “opening an account remotely” really means
Let’s be clear: not all remote openings are equal.
There are three levels:
Level 1: Neobanks and fintech
Revolut, Wise, N26. Open in 10 minutes from the app, zero minimum deposit. All great, until they block your account without notice because you made a “suspicious” wire transfer. And your money stays frozen for 30-60 days while they “verify”.
Advantage: speed.
Disadvantage: zero protection, high closure risk, poor customer service.
Level 2: Traditional banks with online opening
Some European banks allow online opening for non-EU residents. But you’re still limited: often Lithuanian or German IBAN, basic services, no premium credit cards, zero access to investments or wealth management.
Advantage: greater reliability than fintech.
Disadvantage: limited services, no exclusivity.
Level 3: Premium international banks with privileged access
JP Morgan Chase, UBS, HSBC, Citibank, DBS Singapore. Multi-currency accounts, premium credit cards (American Express Platinum, Infinite), wealth management, dedicated relationship manager who speaks Italian, 24/7 WhatsApp support.
Privileged and exclusive conditions, but very often restricted to a tiny circle of clients. You need an internal referrer, a contact who bypasses the standard procedure and gets you in as a premium client even if you don’t have 5 million in the account.
Advantage: access to inaccessible banks, elite services.
Disadvantage: you can’t do it alone.
How GloboBanks opens accounts in international banks remotely
Let’s look at a concrete example to understand the difference between DIY and privileged access through an official introducer.
Scenario A: You try to open a premium international bank on your own
- You book a flight to the destination
Whether it’s New York, Zurich, Singapore or Dubai, you need flights, hotels, transfers. - You show up at a branch
You ask to open a personal or business account. You’re a resident of another country. - They ask for local documentation you don’t have
Local tax documents, utility bills in your name in the bank’s country, proof of residence or residence permit, local banking references. You have none of these. - They tell you to come back (or reject you directly)
They rarely open the account on the spot. You must provide supplementary documentation, wait for compliance verification (weeks or months), return for final signing. Or they simply reject you because you’re not a resident or for other internal reasons (which they’re not required to tell you). - If they miraculously accept you
Minimum deposit required: from $150,000 to 5 million euros depending on the bank and service level. Premium cards? Can be requested after months and building a history.
Result: 2-3 months wasted, extremely high probability of rejection. And if they accept you, you pay minimum deposits 5-10 times higher than what you can get with GloboBanks introduction.
Scenario B: You open with GloboBanks through privileged access
- Preliminary consultation with an expert
Before any application, you speak with a GloboBanks manager who analyzes your situation: available capital, type of business, residence, goals. They tell you which of 60+ banks are accessible in your specific case, with what timeframes, minimum deposits and advantages. Only after this analysis do we proceed. We guide you on exactly what’s needed, bank by bank, document by document. - You’re referred by an internal contact
We work with relationship managers and directors inside the banks. This contact bypasses the standard procedure and gets you in as a quality referred client, not as a generic application in the queue. - The bank contacts you directly
You receive communication from the bank with personalized instructions. We assist you in responding correctly and providing exactly what’s needed for approval. - Remote opening in 7-60 days
Depending on the bank. Zero physical trips. Everything handled online. - Minimum deposit reduced by up to 90%
From 5 million to 500,000€. From 1 million to 100,000€. Deposits drop drastically because you’re referred, not an “unknown high-risk person”. - Premium services from day one
Dedicated relationship manager, immediate premium credit cards (when available), investment access, no waiting to “build history”.
Result: Zero trips, reduced timeframes, minimum deposits reduced by up to 90%, priority access
GloboBanks: the privileged access you can’t get on your own
Opening an account at JP Morgan, UBS, HSBC or Citibank isn’t just about money to deposit, but about access with contacts and references.
You can have 10 million in your account, but if you don’t know someone inside JP Morgan, you won’t be special. You can fly to Switzerland 5 times, but without a referrer, UBS will keep you on the waiting list.
GloboBanks solves this problem.
In recent years we’ve built direct relationships with relationship managers in over 60 banks worldwide: New York, Zurich, Dubai, Singapore, Panama, Hong Kong. Continuous travel, meetings, dinners, handshakes. Trust earned bank by bank.
What we do concretely
We open banking relationships remotely for you or your company (SRL, LLC, LTD, UAE company, holding, trust, foundations). 100% online. Zero trips required.
We reduce minimum deposits by up to 90%: thanks to contractual agreements between GloboBanks and the banks, because you’re referred as a quality client and not as a generic application.
We accelerate timeframes: from 12 months to 30 days. From 3 months to 7 days. Because we bypass standard queues and you’re put at the top of the list.
We get you access to premium credit cards: American Express USA, JP Morgan, cards with limits from $50,000+, cashback up to 4%, airport lounges, travel insurance included.
Who this service is for
Are you an entrepreneur with international companies (American LLC, English LTD, UAE company) who can’t open a bank account? We solve the problem in 2 weeks.
Do you have revenues in USD, EUR, CHF and want to manage multi-currency without 2-3% spread on every conversion? We open segregated accounts in the currencies you need.
Do you want to protect your assets by diversifying banking jurisdictions and accessing stable systems like Switzerland, USA or Singapore? We get you in.
Are you looking for credit cards with real limits for investments, travel, important business operations? We get you the best in the world.
How to start
In 2025, you open an LLC for $500, an LTD for £100, a UAE company for €3,000. Then you’re left with an empty company, without an account. Because banks won’t accept you.
GloboBanks exists for this. To give you the access you can’t get on your own.
Want to open an international bank account?
👉 Write directly at this link: a GloboBanks Team member will respond within 24 hours and tell you which of the 60+ banks are accessible for your profile.
Want to learn more about international banking?
👉 Subscribe to the official GloboBanks YouTube channel for exclusive videos on JP Morgan, UBS, LLC, tax optimization and premium credit cards
